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Correctly Cutting the Word of Truth
2 Timothy 2:15
There is a good rule to follow for finding out what a text or a section or a chapter or a book means. It is attributed to both Miles Coverdale and John Wycliffe. It is worth knowing and should be copied into one's copy of the Bible for constant reference and for constant application to all studies made of the Sacred Scriptures. Here it is:THE GOLDEN RULE OF SCRIPTURE INTERPRETATION
“It shall greatly helpe ye to understand Scripture,
if thou mark not only what is spoken or wrytten,
but of whom, and to whom, with what words,
at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances,
considering what goeth before and what followeth after.”I agree the major problem today isn't that people don't know scripture but they don't know the context of scriptures. Too long have we heard snippets of verses pulled out of context to support a position, rather than trying to understand the truth that the author was attempting to relay to us. This has resulted in great delusion and confusion throughout “christianity”.
Every interpretation also needs to be compared to the whole of scripture.
Here is part of Romans, Chapter 11:26-36, explaining how Israel will be saved in the future, and how He will save all:
26 And thus all Israel shall be saved, according as it is written, Arriving out of Zion shall be the Rescuer. He will be turning away irreverence from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them Whenever I should be eliminating their sins.
28 As to the evangel, indeed, they (Jews) are enemies because of you, yet, as to choice, they are beloved because of the fathers.
29 For unregretted are the graces and the calling of God.
30 For even as you (Gentiles) once were stubborn toward God, yet now were shown mercy at their stubbornness,
31 thus these also are now stubborn to this mercy of yours, that now they also may be shown mercy.
32 For God locks up all together in stubbornness, that He should be merciful to all.
33 O, the depth of the riches and the wisdom and the knowledge of God! How inscrutable are His judgments, and untraceable His ways!
34 For, who knew the mind of the Lord? or, who became His adviser?
35 or, who gives to Him first, and it will be repaid Him?
36 seeing that out of Him and through Him and for Him is all: to Him be the glory for the eons! Amen!What a powerfull statement that last part (verse 36) of scripture is, God is in complete control. He is the potter, we are the clay, He molds us as He pleases, we have no choice.
Blessings.
Hi Nick.
Choice? God is operating ALL according to the councel of His will. (Eph. 1:11)
Faith? …yet a rightiousness of God through Jesus Christs faith, (Ro.3:22)
Grace? …that we may be percieving that which is being GRACIOUSLY given to us by God, (1Cor.2:12)Blessings.
Hi CO,
Eph 11Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3
“22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: “1Cor 2
” 5That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.6Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. “
You should read in context.
These promises are not to the world but to those in Christ, those who believe and those blessed in the Spirit.
The god of this world cannot offer these things.2Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Hi CO,
But there will be a searching and a testing for all who are reborn into Christ in the crucible of suffering.Hi CO,
So the gospel for the Jews is the same as for the gentiles?Jn 3
“5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”
Acts 2
36Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.37Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
38Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
39For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.
Hi Nick.
John 3:5, the kingdom was an earthly kingdom, the “promised land”, that they (Jews) would have realised if they could obey the “law”. They couldn't, and are now set aside byGod, who has turned to the Gentiles (nations). They will again be in favour with God when He graphs them in again. (Ro.11:26-36)Now regarding Acts 2:
34-37 The whole passage shows that Peter is proclaiming a literal king and a literal kingdom for Israel. The descent of the spirit had nothing to do with the formation of the body of Christ, but was a well known sign which indicated the approach of the judgment era which precedes Messiah's advent. In accordance with the burden of his message Peter chooses to bring before them king David and the covenant God made with him, because, if they accept his words, it is this covenant which would be fulfilled. They had crucified Him as the King of Israel. His resurrection proves Him to be the One Whom David foretold. All that remains to be done, should Israel, as a nation, repent, would be the judging of His enemies. This will occur in the judgment era. Here is no hint of, or preparation for, the present interval of undiluted grace, in which God is raising up His enemies, like Saul of Tarsus, to sit with Christ on His celestial throne.38-39 Repentance and baptism lead to a probationary pardon, which may be withdrawn. This pardon is extended by Christ as the King. Its operation is illustrated by the parable of the ten thousand talent debtor (see Mt.18:27-34) whose debt was remitted, but who refused to remit the smaller sum which his fellow slave owed to him. Hence the remission of his debt was canceled. So it is with Israel in this chronicle. Many of those who, in the beginning, received the pardon of their sins, refused to share their pardon with the other nations, objecting to proselytes like Cornelius, raising a riot on the supposition that an alien has entered the sanctuary, seeking to kill Paul even though he brought alms to Jerusalem. They finally fall away (Heb.6:6, 10:27) where there is no longer any room for repentance, but a fearful prospect of judgment. This pardon, however, is in sharp contrast to our justification, or acquittal, which comes from the Judge on the sole grounds of grace and faith, and from which there can be no fall, as it places us beyond the sphere of judgment. Conciliation (Ro.5:11) is immeasurably beyond any pardon, as it places us in the unclouded favor of God's grace.
39 The promise was to Israel both in the land and in the dispersion (Dan.9:7). Those “afar” were Jews in the lands where God had driven them, and not Gentiles or the church.
Blessings.
Quote (chosenone @ June 23 2007,17:57) Nick.
“Gospel” means “Good News”.Blessings.
Well it may be good news ..But What bible did the Apostles carried with them when they went on preaching the “Good News”.. Cough cough,…Hi CO,
The good news is that all who respond to the mediatory offer of God in His Son will be saved.
The rest remain under the wrath of God.
That is the bad news.Nick.
Notice Phil.3:20-21 …to subject all to Himself. Oh, I forgot, to you all means some.20 For our realm is inherent in the heavens, out of which we are awaiting a Saviour also, the Lord, Jesus Christ,
21 Who will transfigure the body of our humilation, to conform it to the body of His glory, in accord with the operation which enables Him even to subject all to Himself.Blessings.
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